Finding THE PATH
4. Sura an-Nisa
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
وَلَوْ
أَنَّا كَتَبْنَا
عَلَيْهِمْ
أَنِ اقْتُلُواْ
أَنفُسَكُمْ
أَوِ اخْرُجُواْ
مِن دِيَارِكُم
...
4: 66. If We had ordered them to sacrifice their lives or to leave their homes,
... مَّا فَعَلُوهُ إِلاَّ قَلِيلٌ مِّنْهُمْ...
very few of them would have done it:
C584. The highest in faith willingly sacrifice their lives, their homes. and all that they hold dearest, in the cause of Allah.
Those whose faith is not so strong are expected at least to do what a loyal member of any society does, submit his doubts and disputes to the head of the society and cheerfully accept his decision and submit to it,
The contrast is between the Hypocrites who will not even do this, and the really devoted men and women who would voluntarily sacrifice their lives.
... وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ فَعَلُواْ مَا يُوعَظُونَ بِهِ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ تَثْبِيتًا ﴿٦٦﴾
but if they had done what they were (actually) told, it would have been best for them, and would have gone farthest to strengthen their (faith).
وَإِذاً
لَّآتَيْنَاهُم
مِّن لَّدُنَّـا
أَجْراً عَظِيمًا
﴿٦٧﴾
4: 67. And We should then have given them from Our Presence a great reward.
وَلَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ
صِرَاطًا
مُّسْتَقِيمًا
﴿٦٨﴾
4: 68. And We should have shown them the Straight Way.
C585. Four advantages of obedience to Allah are mentioned, in the order in which they will appeal to the beginner in faith:
1. his own benefit ("best for them"):
2. strengthening of his faith, as he becomes more and more at home in the world of faith:
3. reward from Allah's own Presence, such intense conviction that no further arguments are needed:
4. the Straight Way, in which there is no doubt or difficulty whatever in our practical conduct.
وَإِذَا
جَاءهُمْ أَمْرٌ
مِّنَ الأَمْنِ
أَوِ الْخَوْفِ
أَذَاعُواْ
بِهِ...
4: 83. When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they divulge it.
... وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَى أُوْلِي الأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ ...
If they had only referred it to the Messenger, or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have tested it from them (direct).
... وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لاَتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً ﴿٨٣﴾
Were it not for the Grace and Mercy of Allah unto you, all but a few of you would have fallen into the clutches of Satan.
C602. In times of war or public panic, thoughtless repetition of gossip is rightly restrained by all effective States. If false, such news may cause needless alarm: if true, it may frighten the, timid and cause some misgiving even to the bravest, because the counterpart of it -the preparations made to meet the danger- is not known.
Thoughtless news, true or false, may also encourage the enemy. The proper course is quietly to hand all news direct to those who are in a position to investigate it. They can then sift it and take suitable measures to checkmate the enemy.
Not to do so, but to deal with news either thoughtlessly or maliciously is to fall directly into the snares of evil.
Asad’s Version:
4: 66 Yet We were to ordain for them, "Lay down your lives," or, "Forsake your homelands," only a very few of them would do - although, if they did what they are admonished to do, it would indeed be for their own good and apt to strengthen them greatly [in faith]
4: 67 Whereupon We should indeed grant them, out of Our Grace, a mighty reward,
4: 68 and indeed guide them on to a straight way.
4: 83 …………….and but for God's bounty towards you, an His grace, all but a few of you would certainly have followed Satan.
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57. Sura al-Hadid
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يَا
أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
آمَنُوا ...
57: 28. O ye that believe!
C5325. From the context before (see n. 5323 above) and after (see next note), this is held to refer to the Christians and People of the Book who kept their Faith true and undefiled.
... اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَآمِنُوا بِرَسُولِهِ...
fear Allah, and believe in His messenger,
...يُؤْتِكُمْ كِفْلَيْنِ مِن رَّحْمَتِهِ ...
and He will bestow on you a double portion of His Mercy:
C5326. The double portion refers to the past and the future.
As noted in the last note, this passage is addressed to the Christians and the People of the Book, who, when honestly facing the question of the new Revelation in Islam, find in it the fulfilment of previous revelations, and therefore believe in Allah's Messenger Muhammad, and walk by the new light. Their previous merits will be duly recognised, and they will be treated on fully equal terms in the new Ummah. This is their double share, not necessarily more in quantity than that of their brethren in Islam who passed through no other gate, but having a twofold aspect.
... وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ نُورًا تَمْشُونَ بِهِ ...
He will provide for you a light by which ye shall walk (straight in your path),
C5327. As this refers to the Christians and the People of the Book, the following saying of Christ in his last days may interest them:
"'Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you... While ye have the fight, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them". (John, 12:35-36).
The light of Christ's Gospel soon departed; his Church was enveloped in darkness; then came the fight again, in the fuller light of Islam. And they are asked to believe in the light, and to walk in it. Cf. also 57:12. and n. 5288 above.
... وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ...
and He will forgive you (your past):
C5328. Any wrong they may have committed through ignorance or misconceptions in their previous religion will be forgiven them, as they have seen the new light and walk by it.
...وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٢٨﴾
For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful:
Asad’s Version:
57: 28 Be mindful of your duty to God and put faith in His messenger. He will give you two fold of His Mercy and will appoint for you a light wherein you shall walk, and will forgive you. Allah is Forgiving , Merciful: